Tired? Drink Something. Not That.

Our bodies are made up of 60% water, the brain and lungs making up to 85% of that water. This is why hydration is fundamental to our health. We can’t even go a few days without water.

Hydration is important for the essential nutrients of sodium and potassium. We need sodium to take nutrients into the cells and potassium to push waste out of the cells. By being dehydrated, cellular nutrition may be disturbed, throwing off the balance of sodium and potassium.

Thus fluid nutrients can no longer be carried into the cell and fluid waste will accumulate making us feel tried and lacking in energy.

Hydration is required for absorption of nutrients and food into the digestive system. By being dehydrated, you cause the GIT to slow down, which in turn causes constipation.

Our blood pressure is kept regulated by being hydrated. If dehydration occurs it can decrease our hearts output leading to increase heart rate with a lower blood pressure. Placing your heart under strain.

Water lubricates the joints and muscles to ensure we have good movement. 70% of muscle is water, which means that dehydration can reduce endurance, strength, and slow response time.

The brain requires hydration to supply brain cells with oxygen and keep us alert.

Dehydration may be a contributing factor to weight gain and obesity, as human beings can misinterpret the thirst signal for hunger and eat rather than rehydrate. If soft drinks, tea, and coffee are consumed instead of water, it not only doesn’t rehydrate but also makes us more dehydrated due to the diuretic effect of caffeine.

So you can start to see how dehydration can play a big role in our overall health.

Coconut water is ideal, especially in serve dehydration as it contains electrolytes like sodium and potassium, but is low in sugar and natural. Commercial hydration drinks are usually packed with artificial colours and flavouring.

Make water fun and more exciting by adding berries or mint.

A good way of testing your hydration is to pinch the back of your hand, if the skin bounces back you’re hydrated. If it doesn’t you are dehydrated. Another sign is dark circle or sunken eyes.

Tl;dr: Drink up!